Indian River County 4-H Foundation

Established in 2008, the Indian River County 4-H Foundation is a nationally chartered, private, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Indian River County 4-H program. The Foundation raises funds and builds public support to expand educational opportunities, leadership development, and life skills for local 4-H youth.

The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of community members who share a commitment to advocating for and investing in the success of Indian River County 4-H youth.

Our Impact

Since 2009, the Foundation has raised over $100,000 through its annual Cocktail Party & Auction and other fundraising efforts. These funds directly support scholarships, youth programs, leadership opportunities, and financial assistance for 4-H members.

Giving

For information about making a donation to the Indian River County 4-H Foundation, please contact us using the information provided below. Your support helps ensure that 4-H opportunities remain accessible to youth throughout our community.

Erin Foster Arena Memorial Senior Achievement Award

The Erin Foster Arena Memorial Senior Achievement Award is a merit-based award offered by the Indian River County 4-H Foundation to graduating seniors.

2026 Award Amounts

1st Place: $1,000
2nd Place: $750
3rd Place: $500
4th Place: $250

Funds are provided directly to the award recipients to assist with post-high school educational and training expenses.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must:

Be an active Indian River County 4-H member
Be a graduating senior at the time of application

Preference is given to members who have demonstrated:

Academic achievement
Leadership potential
Achievement and/or leadership within 4-H

Application Process & Important Dates

Application Deadline: April 1, 2026
Applications are reviewed by the Indian River County 4-H Foundation Award Panel
Selected applicants will be invited to interview
Interview Notifications: April 10, 2026
Interviews: Week of April 20, 2026, at the Indian River County Administration Building, Date and Time to be determined

Final recipients are determined using cumulative scores from the application and interview and then ranked by each panel member. In the event of a tie, the candidate with the highest number of top rankings will be selected.

Award recipients will be announced on the Foundation website, Facebook page, and other media outlets.

Application Links

Link for application: IRC 4-H Foundation Erin Foster Arena Memorial Senior Achievement Scholarship Award application
Link for Senior Award Application Score Sheet: Senior Award Application Score Sheet 2-07-2025
Link for Senior Award Interview Score Sheet: Senior Award Interview Score Sheet 2-7-2025

Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to: irc4hfoundation@gmail.com

Previous Award Recipients

2026

1st Place: Heather Wooten, Triple Crown 4-H Club
2nd Place: Tori Dickenson, Cornerstone 4-H Club
3rd Place: Lilly Kofke, Indian River Horsemasters 4-H Club
4th Place: Zack Chisholm, Farm Life 4-H Club

2025

1st Place: Olivia Diaz, Horsemasters 4-H Club
2nd Place: Kylah Flynt, Barn Blazers 4-H Club

2024

1st Place: Arielle Rosenberg, Horsemasters 4-H Club
2nd Place: Lindsey Dillahay, Horsemasters 4-H Club
3rd Place: Ryleigh Spence, Lucky Clover 4-H Club
Honorable Mentions:
- - Sofie Bender - Homegrown 4-H Club
  - Addison Gabbard - Farmin' Around 4-H Club
  - Summer Jenks - Triple Crown 4-H Club

2023

1st Place: John Berryman of Barn Blazer's 4-H Club
Runner-up: Andrew Baierl of Rebel Hogz 4-H Club
Runner-up: Connor Shepherd of Rebel Hogz 4-H Club
Honorable Mention: Maggie Bender of Homegrown 4-H Club

2022

1st Place: Trevor Berryman of Barn Blazers 4-H Club

2021

1st Place: Emma R. of Horsemaster's 4-H Club

2020

1st Place: Meghan F. of Triple Crown 4-H Club
2nd Place: Hannah F. of Indian River Swine PrimeTime Cattlemen 4-H Club
3rd Place: Elizabeth K. of Rebel Hogz with a Cause 4-H Club

4-H Youth Financial Assistance Requests

The Indian River County 4-H Foundation provides financial assistance to support participation in 4-H events and activities.

Requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event registration deadline
Submission of a request does not guarantee funding
An official decision will be emailed to the requestor and Club Leader after review by the Foundation Board

For questions, please contact irc4hfoundation@gmail.com.

More information and application: Request for Funding

Summer Event Scholarships - 2026

the Foundation is offering partial scholarships to assist 4-H members with participation in summer and statewide programs. Members may apply for multiple scholarships; however, only one event scholarship will be awarded per individual.

If scholarships are not fully awarded by the deadline, funds may be reallocated at the Foundations' discretion.

Available Scholarships

4-H Legislature: 3 scholarships - $200 each
4-H University: 3 scholarships - $200 each
4-H Summer Camp: 3 scholarships - $300 each
ILead: 3 scholarships - $100 each
4-H Horsemanship School: 6 scholarships - $100 each

2026 Event Schedule

Number of Amount

Event Awards per Award Event Dates Deadline

Legislature 3 $200 June 22-26 May 1

University 3 $200 July 27-30 June 1

Summer Camps 3 $200 Varies August 1

ILead 3 $100 June 5-7 May 1

Horsemanship

School 6 $100 June 6-9/ June 10-13 May 1

Upcoming Dates & Meetings

Indian River County 4-H Foundation meetings are held monthly on the first Monday at 6:00 p.m. in the County Administration Building A, Room A1-101.

Members of the public are welcome to attend. Please contact us at least one week in advance at irc4hfoundation@gmail.com with your speaking points so adequate time may be scheduled on the agenda.

Community Support

Join us in supporting 4-H youth attending the 2026 Indian River County Youth and Livestock Show at the Indian River County Firefighters' Fair, held March 13-22, 2026 at the Indian River County Fairgrounds.